FIREFIGHTERS and young footballers joined together to hold a car wash in memory of Kyrece Francis.

Yesterday a stream of cars continued to arrive at Beaconsfield Fire Station to be washed from 10am to 3pm.

It was held in memory of 13-year-old Kyrece Francis,who died in the River Thames in Marlow on July 22 when friends said he went to fetch a football.

All money raised from the event will be split between The Fire Fighters Charity and the fundraising campaign set up by Kyrece's friends to buy life jackets, buoys and awareness signs for along the Thames Path.

Kyrece played for Downley Dynamos under 14s and his team mates and their parents came out in force to pitch in with a sponge and clean cars.

Team mate Jake Bradshaw, 13, said: "It feels like part of you is missing.

"Whenever we go out we feel like we are missing someone.

"He was one of the nicest people I have ever met. Nobody could ever say a bad word about him. Everybody loved him."

Coach Steve Small said they wanted to do something to help raise money.

He added: "Kyrece was with us for about two and a half to three years.

"He was a really good kid. He was a very good footballer and he was getting better all of the time."

As well as the car wash there was a cake stall, with hundreds of cakes donated.

Kyrece's girlfriend said: "The car wash has brought Kyrece's Downley football friends and Marlow friends together, he would like that. The successful outcome of the day shows how much everyone really loves him."

Rachel Rowley, who has helped coordinate the fundraising, said: "It has definitely brought a lot of the community together. Wycombe and Marlow has come together as well.

"It is amazing and shows how well known he was and how well liked."

Kyrece went to Great Marlow School and his school friends said they want to continue to fundraise with one saying: "We all feel like we have a part to play."

Neil Curry, who is a full time fire fighter and coached the teenager at Downley Dynamos said it was good to see everyone coming together and pitching in.